After our tranquil stay on Koh Jum, we caught the ferry back to the dock on the southern end of Krabi. From there, it was easy to find a van that took us north to our next stay at The Simple Place.
The guesthouse sat about a ten-minute walk from the beach, down a dirt road that cut behind the Sunday/Tuesday market. Klong Muang Beach lies roughly twenty minutes north of Ao Nang Beach and about thirty minutes from downtown Krabi — close enough for exploring, far enough to stay calm. It’s a beautiful stretch of sand, with a small island off the north end and several relaxed restaurants lining the shore.
We spent the better part of a week here doing exactly what the place invites you to do: hanging out on the beach, eating our way through the markets, and exploring nearby spots at an easy pace.
One day took us into Central Krabi Mall, where we stumbled upon a Swensen’s. I hadn’t seen one in years, and it was the kids’ first visit — they were not disappointed. From there we headed straight to the Krabi Night Market, sampling as much food as we could manage. There was plenty on offer.
I kept up my early-morning beach walks, and at that hour the shoreline was still mostly empty. One morning, on the dirt road back to our place, I spotted a small snake — maybe eighteen inches long. It looked calm enough, but I gave it plenty of space. The kids came out to observe from a distance, and our oldest had a hunch based on the head scales and large black eyes. A quick check later confirmed it: a juvenile king cobra.
From that moment on, we made sure to carry a good flashlight anytime we were out after dark. There were no streetlights along the road, and I couldn’t help thinking about the possibility of mama cobra lurking among the rubber trees nearby.
Water, Jungle, and Limestone
Another day we took the kids kayaking at Klong Root (Klong Nam Sai). You paddle one to two kilometers along a wide, clear canal with dark water and karst mountains rising in the distance. Eventually the canal narrows and you slip into a shaded jungle corridor — thick canopy overhead, gnarled tree roots, and cool spots perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
We spent about forty-five minutes snorkeling before paddling farther upstream to where an underwater freshwater spring feeds the canal. On the way back, we wandered the starting area, where local families and kids were swimming, playing, and jumping from a bridge. Thai teas in hand, we waited for our van to pick us up. It’s an excellent way to spend a morning or afternoon.
Another day was dedicated to hiking the Khao Ngon Nak Nature Trail up to Dragon’s Crest — but that one deserves its own post.
Closing Out the Year on the Andaman
Our final day of beach life also happened to be the last day of 2025 — a year that was especially meaningful for our family. It brought new places for the kids, along with a mix of old and new favorites for me.
We rose early and headed to a pier to catch a boat over to East Railay Beach. From the floating pier we walked left to the trail leading toward the stalactites and the steep climb up to the East Railay viewpoint. The climb is only about a hundred meters, but it’s straight up — rocky, exposed, with permanent ropes to help you up and down.
We started down the trail toward the lagoon, but once the kids saw how far down it went — and realized they’d have to climb back out — we changed plans and made our way to the beach instead. We swam for a couple of hours at Phra Nang Beach, then threaded back through the busy center of Railay, past shops, restaurants, bars, and streets crawling with monkeys.
By late afternoon we reached West Railay Beach. It was easily the most crowded beach we visited on the trip — and also one of the most stunning. Clear water, leaning palms, and sheer jungle-covered cliffs rising straight from the sand. Good times all around.
We returned to Klong Muang in the late afternoon and capped the day with dinner at Andalay Beach Bar & Cafe, watching the sun sink into the Andaman Sea.
Early the next morning, we caught a flight back to Bangkok to ring in the new year — rested, grateful, and already carrying these days with us.
Wise Clan in Stanland 
Leave a comment